Currently: January 2023

I don't know how this is possible, but I haven't done a currently post since last April! I used to do these monthly as it's a good way to share a bunch of random updates on my life. So here goes!

Reading: The Four Treasures of the Sky, a debut novel by Jenny Tinghui Zhang. It's historical fiction set during the late 1800s in the western region of the US. The protagonist is kidnapped in China and brought to the US. The treatment of her is abhorrent! I am learning a lot about the Chinese Exclusion Act which was a ban on Chinese immigrants that was passed in 1882. It's sad to see that, over 200 years later, the Asian population in the US is still being treated poorly. I went to HH with a friend of Korean descent earlier this week and she said she does not take the subway in NY when she travels for work because she does not feel safe given how those of Asian descent are being treated. :( When will true and lasting change happen? 

Loving: the mild winter we've had so far in January. Typically this can be a bitterly cold month for us Minnesotans. I'm going strong on my 23 in '23 challenge and have really enjoyed my outdoor walks and runs. That said, the mild weather is coming to a crashing halt this weekend. Sob! Luckily it looks like it will warm up while my friend Kyria visits us next weekend! Phew!

This is the screenshot I sent Kyria. I'm glad she's missing the bitterly cold weather!

Feeling: sad that my colleague and mentor will be retiring at the end of March. I've known about this for a long time but it is finally public so I can talk about it! We met in a writing class when I worked in corporate finance at a previous employer back in 2008. He liked that I had a degree in math and was a good writer (it's kind of a rare combination). He eventually hired me in early 2011 but we only had 1.5 years together before he was recruited over to our current firm. Then I joined him here in 2015. I'm glad we've had almost 8 years together here but I know we will always stay in touch. It will be a big adjustment to me,though. I'm glad I've worked on elevating my profile with our salesforce over the last year because I will be taking on a lot more client calls when he leaves. All that said, I'm very happy for him! In our industry, it's kind of rare to go out on your own terms!

Anticipating: Kyria's visit next weekend! I met Kyria through blogging 10+ years ago. I've visited her in California several times, either on work trips or to meet up for races, and Phil and I visited her in 2016. Phil and her get along super well since they both enjoy craft beers and have a sense of frugality ingrained in them. She came to our wedding in 2017, and when we walked in the door from picking her up at the airport, Phil asked her to grab him a beer from the fridge - that's the best way for me to sum of their level of comfort with each other. ;) She visited us when Paul was 6 months but I haven't seen her since!! While she's here we will go to the zoo and see the dolphin training demonstration and the 2 of us plan to do a 10k snowshoe "race." I put "race" in quotations because I can't imagine we'll be fast in snowshoes! I'm so glad we have a great guest room set up and can easily host people now. Our house has a guest suite in the basement with it's own ensuite bathroom. I'm really looking forward to catching up in person and introducing her to our kids! All this is to say that you can develop wonderful friendship through blogging!

Struggling: with toddler meltdowns/big emotions. I know I don't have to preface this by saying I adore Will, but I want to emphasize that! And I know this is developmentally appropriate, but it's still a really hard stage. I thought 2 was going to be an easier age since it was pretty easy with Paul... but Jenny, whose oldest is also named Paul, was right when she warned me that 2 might be harder with Will as that was the case with her second child. 

Grateful: that we've had a pretty healthy stretch recently. I know so many people who've been sick recently. I fear that writing this will result in one of us getting sick. Will does have a minor cold so we aren't completely healthy but the last couple of months have been much better than September-November when one of the kids and me were sick on and off (I tend to get everything they catch at daycare). 

Working: on lots of puzzles! Buying a puzzle mat last year was a game changer. I usually work on a puzzle when the kids are in bed while we watch a show. Then I roll it up and put it away each night. I could NOT have a puzzle out on a table with my 2 young kids around. I am sure many pieces would go missing.

My latest puzzle - a gallison brand puzzle of houseplants! To be clear, I do not own any houseplants. I have a black thumb. But it was a pretty puzzle to work on!

Thinking: about my 2 trips I'll be taking in 2023! I bought the tickets for my trip with Paul to Tucson to visit my sister and her family in April. I'm super excited to do a one-on-one trip with him! And I'm starting to plan my August trip to the Banff/Canmore area of Canada. I'm meeting up with my friend Amber, who I also met through blogging (she no longer blogs, though!). We haven't seen each other since my wedding so I can't wait to hug her in person and catch up on life while going on gorgeous hikes! And hopefully I'll also get to see Nicole and hug her in person! 

Watching: nothing of note these days. But I am very very excited for the new season of Top Chef that starts on March 9th! It's an all-stars season and includes winners from other country's Top Chef! I love Top Chef soooo much!

Wishing: that this cold stretch will be our last for the winter? This is truly wishful thinking! I can handle snow but bitterly cold temps are such a drag, especially when you have little kids!

What are you anticipating, struggling with, and grateful for?